Dental-engine handpiece



No. 606,755. A'Pacen'red luly 5, |898.

A. W. BHUWNE. DENTAL ENGINE HANDPIEC-E. (Application filed Mar. 9, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WlTNESSES= E INVENTOR. E

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UNITED STATES`v PATENT OEErcE.

ARTHUR W. BROWNE, OF PRINCES BAY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE `S. S. WHITE DENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,755, dated July 5, v1898.

of the invention, such as will enableothers IO make and'use thesame.

My inventionrelates'to handpieces for den-A tal engines; and it consists of certain improvements, hereinafter claimed, applicable to that class of handpieces in which the tools carried thereby may be operated at various angles relatively to the handle or body of the handpiece.

The object of my invention is to provide a handpiece of this class of simple and comparatively durable construction and in which the tools carried by it may be quickly and easily adjusted to any angle within certain limits relatively to the handle portion, the tool rmly locked in any position towhich it may be adjusted or yieldingly held in any position of angular adjustment, and possessing other advantages, all of whichl will hereinafter be more fully explained.

3o In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a handpiece madev Fig. 2 is in accordance with my invention. A a sectional longitudinal central View of the front portion of said handpiece on an en?l larged scale. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation Vof the front portion of the handpiece shown inA Fig. 2 and turned at a right angle thereto.A Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hand,4

piece on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. 4o

handpiece consists of a tubular elbow A, composed of two members A and A2, arranged, preferably, atl a right angle relatively to each other. Fitted in the bore of the member A of the head and havingY bearing therein is a rotary socket or tool-holder B, provided with a gear B', which rotates with the tool-holder in an enlarged portion a of the bore of the member A of the head. A perforated nose-A 5o piece C, 4having screw-threaded connection skilled in the art to which'it -appe'rtains toA The head or tool-holding portion of theV Serial No. 673,192.' (No model.)

with the member A', serves to hold the socket or tool-holder in place in the head. Suitable operating-tools, s uch as the bur D, are adaptedto be fitted inthe tool-holder by way of the shank D, which is inserted in the socket of the tool-holder, and a flattened portion d on the inner end of the shank engaging a corresponding flattened projection b in the inner end of the socket ofthe tool-holder serves to cause the roperating-tool to rotate with the tool-holder.VV In the end of the tool-shank is an annular groove d', adapted to be engaged :bya notched swing-.slide E, pivoted by a screw e within a slot in the head A. v, The outer end of the swing-slide is rounded and milled and projects slightly beyond the front of the head A in order that it may be readily swung by the thumb or finger into operative position to cause its notch to engage the groove of the operating-tool and securely hold the same in position in the tool-holder without interfering with its rotary motion or be swung out of engagement with said operating-tool to permit the same to be withdrawn from the holder. Fitted in the bore of the member A2 of the head is a gear F, a socket-bearing f in the front end of which fits and rotates upon va journal ct', projecting from the partition between the bores-of thev respective members of the head. The front end of the gear F engages the gear of the tool-holder B, which projects through an opening in said partition, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, whereby when the gear F is rotated, as will later on be explained, rotary motion is imparted to the tool-holder and the tool carried thereby.

For the purpose of making suitable supporting connection between the above-described head or tool-holding portion of the handpiece and the handlelportionor body, farther on to be described, in such a way that it may be adjusted to any angle within certain limits relatively to said' handleportion and at the same time provide a suitablev driving connection between the gear F of the head the handle portion, I have provided mechani loo ism as follows: On the exposed end of the member A2 of the handpiecc-head is a rounded or ball-like projection G, constituting one member of a universal or ball-and -socket supporting connection between the head and handle portions of the handpiece, the other member ofv this connection being formed 1oy a spring-jawed socket ll, split at 7L and provided with a tubular exteriorly-threaded extension ll', which screws into the front inte riorly-threaded end of a tubular metallic handle-section l of the handle portion. The connection between the socket extension H and the handle -section l is preferably by means of left-handed screw-threads, and the socket member lI may be securely held in the handle-section l by means of a set-screw 1', passing through an opening in said handle-section and into an indentation on the extension ll of the socket member. The ball member ofthe supporting connection lits in the socket member and may be freely moved about therein in any direction, and consequently the handpiece-hcad may be moved or adjusted to any angular position relatively to the handle portion, the extent of this universal movement of the head being limited by the head coming in contact with the outer end of the socket member ll. Surrounding the spring-jawed socket member Il is a clampsleevc J, having a cone-shaped socket corresponding with the exterior cone shape of the socket member ll. The inner end of this sleeve, which is reduced in diameter, surrounds and freely turns upon one end of a long nut l, screwing upon the threaded socket extension ll,and a flange or annular shoulder 7c on the forward end of said long nut and bearing against a shoulder on the interior of the clamp sleeve, and a collar L, secured to the long nut by means of a set-screw Z, serve to hold the clamp sleeve upon the long nut and cause said sleeve to move endwise with the nut, while leaving said nut free to be turned without turning said sleeve. The collar L is preferably roughened orscrrated upon its outer surface and provides ready means for turning the long nut in opposite directions. Turning of the nut in 011e direction by means of its serrated collar moves the elamp-slecve forward to cause the springjaws of the socket ll to grip and hold the ball member G with more or less tightness, according to the amount of pressure brought to bear by the clamp-sleeve, while turning of the nut in the opposite direction releases the ball member from pressure of the socket member and leaves it free to be moved in all directions.

The front section M of a rotary drivingspindle has bearing in the tubular extension ll' of the socket member ll of the said universal supporting connection and is connected at its rear end with the main section M' of said d ri ving-spindle, which is mounted in bearings in the handle portion of the handpiece. Near the front end of the spindle M f open.

is an annular flange m2, which abuts against a shoulder h' on the inside of the socket member Il and serves to prevent inward movement of the driving-spindle, outward movement of this spindle being prevented by the end of the main section M of the spindle abutting against the inner end of the socket-inember extension Il.

The universal driving connection between the gear F of the handpiecc-head and the driving-spindle M is shown as consisting of four lateral projections m on the end of the driving-spindle M and which are adapted to engage with as many longitudinal slots or notches f in the end of the gear F opposite to the end thereof provided with the gear teeth. The extremity of the driving-shaft, at the center or junction of the lateral projections, is formed with a slightly-rounded projection m', adapted to fit in a corresponding concaved scat in the bottom of asocket in the gear F, into which socket the slots or notches It will be seen that the gear F may be freely rocked in all directions about the projection m as a center without interfering with the drivingconnection between said gear F and driving-spindle even while the parts are being operated. lt will further be seen that the projection m', about which the universal driving connection turns, is also the center of the univeral or ball-and-socket supporting connection and that when the handpicce-head is rocked in any direction about said universal supporting connection the said universal driving connection permits of the gear F movin correspondingly.

A hard-rubberhandle-section N, preferably flat-sided or triangular in cross-section, may be fitted upon the metal handle-section I and prevented from turning thereon in any suitable way. A metal ferrulc O, screwed upon the rear end of the handle-section l, and a dog (not shown) on the rear end of the drivingspindle Mt form part of a slip-joint7 connection of well-known construction for making a readily-detachable connection with a flexible driving-shaft and sheath of a dental engine.

The operation of my improved handpiece is as follows: lVith the handpiece suitably connected to a dental engine and an instrument or operatingtool of the desired size and shape, as the bur l), locked in the tool-holder l), rotary lnotion may be imparted to the driving-spindle M by the operation of the engine and this rotary motion communicated to the tool-holder and tool carried thereby by means of the universal driving connection between said driving-shaft and the gear F and the angle-gearing between the gear F and the gear B ofthe tool-holdel l). By relieving the ball member Gvof the universal supporting con,- nection between the head and handle portions of the handpiece from pressure of the springjawed socket member ll by turning of the collar L the head maybe moved in any direction whatever to vary the angular position of IIO the operating-tool relatively tothe longitudinal axis of the handpiece, the universal dri ving connection moving with and accommodating itself to the movement of the universal supporting connection. After the head and tool have been adj usted to the proper position they may be firmly clamped and retained in such position by turning of the collar L in the proper direction, or any desired degree of frictional tension may be brought to bear upon the head by means of the collar.

In a handpiece constructed according to my invention the operating-tool, it will be seen, is susceptible of a very wide range of adjustment in all directions.- It can be moved in the arc of a circle in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the handpiece from its ex treme obtuse angle of, say, one hundred and fifteen degrees to its extreme acute angle of, say, sixty-three degrees, these extreme positions being indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2. When in either of these extreme positions or in any intermediate position between them, the operating-to'ol may be moved in a complete circle about the longitudinal axis of the handpiece. It will further be seen that the handpiece-head may be moved laterally to adjust the longitudinal axis of the operatingtool to one side or the other of the longitudinal axis of the handle portion, such positions beingindicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3. When in either of these positions, the operatingtool may be adjusted to various angles relatively to the handpiece, approximately the same as when the longitudinal axis of the operating-tool and the handpiece lie in the same plane. In fact, the operating-tool, owing to the universal connections, may be adjusted, within certain limits, in any direction to occupy any angular position with reference to the hand piece. The construction is such that the operating-tool may be looked in any position whatever to which it may be adjusted, which is not true of adjustable-angle handpieces as heretofore constructed and in which detent devices are employed to lock the operating-tool in certain determined positions. The clamping device for the universal orballand-socket supporting connection between the handpiece-head and handle portions may be readily actuated to firmly lock the head in any position to which it may be adjusted, so that the position of the operating-tool cannot be altered Without rst releasing the clamping device, or said clamping device may be adj usted or set toapply just so much pressure upon the supporting connection as is necessary to hold the operating-tool against ordinary working pressure applied to it in operation, while leaving it free to be readily adjusted to any position by the thumb or finger without the necessity of actuating the clamping device, or just so much pressure may be vapplied to the supporting connection by the clamping device as will permit the operating-tool to yield under excessive working pressure in operation, while holding it with sufficient force to prevent its yielding to ordinary or light pressure in operation, this latter adjustment being particularly advantageous when the instrument is being operated upon frail teeth in the human mouth--a function unique in this class of devices. One advantage of thel capability of the operatingtool being turned in a circle about the longitudinal axis of the handpiece is that when, as shown, the nger-grasping portion of the handpiece, as N, is attened or triangular in cross-section the dentist may turn the operatingtool about the handpiece without changing the position of the same in his hand. Bythis means the operating-tool maybe readily adjusted, so that it may be operated wheny downward, upward, or sidewise pressure is applied to it without turning the handpiece to accommodate the changed direction in which the operating-tool is to be operated.

It should be observed that my present invention consists of a compound universal connection-that is to say, a universal or balland-socket supportingV connection between the handpiece-head and the handle portion and a universal driving connection between the toolholder of said head and the driving-spindle of the handlev portion, together with the means for clamping the same. As to this compound universal connection and its clamping device, it is obvious that the de-l tailed construction herein shown and deent invention and also that my present imi provements may be applied to adj ustable-angie handpieces differing in construction from` handle portion of the handpiece should be' flattened or triangular in cross-section. It

will also be obvious that that part of my iin-v provements which provides for yieldingly or frictionally clamping the adjustable hand-A piece-head is not confined to a handpiece in' which the head is capable of being adjusted in all directions, for I believe myself to be the rst to provide means for yieldingly holdi ing the head of adjustable-angle dental-engine handpieces. I claim as my invention- IIO l. The combination, in a dental-engine adj ustable-angle handpiece, of the handle portion, the head, a ball-and-socket supporting connection between said handle portion and said head, a driving-spindle mounted in said handle portion, a tool-holder mounted in said head at an angle to said handle portion, and a universal driving connection between said driving-spindle and said tool-holder, the said universal supporting and driving connections having a common center, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

2. The combination, in a dental-engine adjustable-angle handpiece, of the handle portion, the head, a ball-and-socket supporting connection between said handle portion and said head, a driving-spindle mounted in said handle portion, a tool-holder mounted in said head, a universal driving connection between said drivin g-spindle and said tool-holder, and an adjustable elampin g device forfrictionally clamping said ball-and-socket supporting connection between the handle portion and the head, whereby any desired degree of frictional tension may be applied to said supporting connection, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

3. The combination, in a dental-engine adjustable-angle handpieee, of the handle portion, a head having ball-and-socket supporting connection therewith,a tool-holder mounted in said head at an angle to said handle portion, and provided with gear-teeth, a gear mountedin said head atan angle to said toolholder and meshing with the gear-teeth thereof, and a rotary driving-spindle mounted in said handle portion and having universal driving connection with said gear, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

4. The combination, in a dental-engine adjustable-angle handpiece, of the handle portion provided with a split socket, a head provided with a ball litted in said split socket, an endwise-movable sleeve surrounding said split socket for causing the same to frictionally clamp the ball on said head, means for adjusting said sleeve, a tool-holder mounted in said head, a driving-spindle mounted in said handle portion, and a universal driving connection between said tool-holder an d said driving-spindle, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

5. The combination, in a dental-engine adjustable-angle handpieee, of the handle portion, a head having ball-and-socket supporting connection therewith,a tool-holdermou nted in said head at an angle to said handle portion and provided with gear-teeth, a gear mounted in said head at an angle to said toolholderand meshing with the gear-teeth thereof, said gear being provided with a socket, and a concave seat in the bottom of said socket, and also with slots in the side of said gear and which open into said socket, a rotary driving-spindle mounted in the handle portion and provided with arounded extremity having bearing in the seat in said gear and also with lateral projections which engage the slots in said gear, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

G. The combination, in adental-engine adjustable-angle handpiece, of the handle portion, a spring-jawed socket provided with a tubular externally-threaded extension connected to said handle portion, a clamp-sleeve surrounding said spring-jawed socket, a nut screwing upon the threaded extension ol' said socket and having swiveling connection with said sleeve, a collar secured to said nut, a driving-spindle having bearing in said handle portion and passing through said tubular socket extension and projecting into said socket, a head provided with a ball seated in said socket, a tool-holder mounted in said head atan angle to said handle portion and provided with gear-teeth, a gear also mountedin said head atan angle to said tool-holder and meshing with the gear-teeth thereof, and a universal driving connection between said gear and the driving-spindle of the handle portion, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described. v

7. The combination, in an adj ustable-anglc handpiece for dental engines, of the handle portion, the driving-spindle mounted therein, the head provided with a tool-holder arranged at an angle relatively to said handle portion, said head and tool-holder being adjustably connected to said handle portion and said driving-spindle, respectively, and an adjustable clamping device for frictionally clamping said head, whereby it may be either firmly held in any position whateverto which it may be adjusted or yieldingly held against working pressure while in operation, but free to be angularly adjusted without operating the clamping mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR XV. ]}RO\VNE.

Witnesses:

SEYMOUR CASE, M. A. COLE.

IOO 

